Collateral Damage Daily for July 26

Alex Rodriguez his fractured left hand Tuesday night and was placed on the 15-day DL on Wednesday. A pitch from Felix Hernandez ran inside and hit the outside of his left hand, fracturing the fifth metacarpal as it was compressed between the bat and the ball. A-Rod suffered a non-displaced fracture, which should heal well on its own. The issue is the timing. These typically take about between five to eight weeks to heal, but even the slightest delay can push that back even more. The conservative estimate of about five to six weeks would put him back around the first week of September, but if he is on the high side of normal at eight weeks, that would push him back to the last week of September. He will likely be immobilized for several weeks before beginning therapy exercises and baseball activities. Ramiro Pena was called up to take A-Rodís roster spot, but Eric Chavez is expected to be the primary third baseman.

J.P. Arencibia suffered a fractured hand on Wednesday when a foul ball bounced off his right hand. He will be placed on the DL within the next few days. As discussed above, the typical fracture takes about six weeks to heal; thatís the initial estimate for Arencibia. Being a catcher, it may delay his recovery deeper into September, but it should heal just fine. Jeff Mathis will take over as the everyday catcher.

Adam Kennedy was placed on the 15-day DL Wednesday with a strained right groin that he injured on Tuesday night. He injured it during a seventh-inning at-bat and actually stayed in the game, singling in the at-bat. Tuesday morning he was still in pain and tight, so he was moved to the DL move. Typically, second basemen take just a bit over three weeks to return.